Acid Reflux Problem Solved by Snacking on Almonds

Q. I solved my acid reflux problem with an answer that had been in your column a few years ago: almonds. I had just had a bad experience with a medication called Dexilant. It made my acid reflux ten times worse.

I stopped the medication and started eating almonds. I experimented with raw, roasted and roasted with salt, to see what worked best for me. I found almonds roasted with salt did the trick.

Someone had written in that they ate almonds before a meal to prevent heartburn. I also ate the almonds just as a snack.

I got to the point I only needed the almonds after a tomato-based meal, and after a little more time I needed none at all. I still eat them as a snack, though.

I do get heartburn occasionally. Depending where I am, I’ll take Tums or almonds. I hope this information will help some of your readers, because it was a huge help for me.

A. We appreciate your story. Other readers have suggested that about half a dozen almonds are enough to ward off heartburn.

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11 Thoughts Shared

SGH

June 26, 2014 at 7:06 pm

I tried the almond remedy one day when I had an attack of heartburn. I was surprised at how quickly it worked to relieve my symptoms. I just took a small handful. I’d be interested in knowing when to take them as prevention vs. relief. Before meals, morning, evening?

AJW

March 6, 2014 at 2:19 pm

AS

March 5, 2014 at 10:48 pm

You hear so much about Omega 3’s. What is the ratio of Omega 3’s to the 7’s? Thanks! People’s Pharmacy response: We aren’t aware of any particular ratio of omega-3 to omega-7. The ratio to omega-6 is ideally 1 to 4 or even less, down to 1 to 1.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909

AS

March 5, 2014 at 8:45 am

MTSK – If you decide to wean off again, take your time… It took me over a year to wean off. I started with every other day, then every two, every three days and so on until I went to one in every five days. That’s when I decided to stop altogether.

CAR

March 4, 2014 at 10:48 pm

FOr 16 yrs. I was on Prevacid for acid reflux, stomach ulcers, hiatal hernia, but weaned myself off of the drug & have been taking a multi-enyme formula with each meal & before I go to bed & have had very little problems since. Once & a while I need a titralac-an over the counter antacid that is small & isn’t so full of sugar as so many for the other ones are. It’s going on 3 yrs. that I’ve been doing this & it has worked for me. I also take Omega 7 which has healed up my intestinal tract & when I had the last colonoscopy, the Dr. said my insides looked the best he’d seen in 20 yrs. I’ve had the test every 3 yrs. as I was a breast cancer patient & had polyps, but this last time I’ve been able to go 5 yrs. I have a grandson who has ulcerative colitis & we’ve gotten him on the Omega 7 as well & it’s helped him to heal up; so we know it works.

DM

March 4, 2014 at 7:49 pm

I am on medication for high blood pressure and also have acid reflux. I finally got myself off Nexium after taking it for over ten years. One of the things I started using for it was DGL supplements until I learned recently that it can raise blood pressure. I like almonds and eat them occasionally. Now I will try a few before meals.

MTSK

March 4, 2014 at 2:37 pm

I am just curious as to how long this person has been suffering with acid reflux. I also take dexilant with no side effects. If I were to stop taking it which I did try to wean myself off my heartburn was extreme. I have given up gluten, dairy and sugar and my symptoms (bloating, abdominal discomfort and heart burn have diminished) I may try and wean myself off the medication again in the future.

CJ

March 4, 2014 at 10:28 am

I just ate some almonds (raw and unsalted) yesterday and had quite the opposite reaction. I drank almond milk with them, so wondered if that could have contributed. I probably had at least 1/2 cup of almonds with about a cup of almond milk. I experienced some of the worst heartburn I have had in a year or so. Took my prescribed medication but still had to add about 6 Gaviscon tablets over the following 4 hours. Why?

May B.

March 4, 2014 at 5:11 am

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Each week we send two free email newsletters with breaking health news, prescription drug information, home remedies and a preview of our award-winning radio show. Make confident choices about your health.

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